Mechanical self-locking comb



July 5, 1938. L, NEWBERRY A 2,123,117

' MECHANICAL SELF LQCKING COMB Filed Oct. 2l, 1936 erry ORNEY.

I INVENTOR. f

EENM- Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

` The device of this invention relates to combs, and particularly tothat type of comb designed to aid in holding hair in place, either during the period of hair dressing, and/or after such hair dressing, for the purpose oi preventing hair from becoming free and disheveled.

It is therefore a prime object of the present invention to provide a comb for the purpose as generally set forth in the preceding paragraph.

A further object is toprovide a 4comb formed in halves which when combined are adapted to move relative to one another and to be locked in predetermined position, whereby hair may be clamped therebetween.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a comb wherein the teeth, of separable halfcombs, `Will normally lie one against the other, and which are yieldably spaceable, and which normally return to the point of beginning when released.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the accompanying drawing, the specification, and the subjoined claims.

In the drawing of which there is one sheet:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one type of comb constructed in accordance with the present invention wherein the half combs are lockable in predetermined position.`

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragment of the base member of the device of this invention, showing how the teeth are constructed in relation to the sides thereof, and the tooth spacing to permit the teeth of the upper half comb to nest therein, and to be permitted lateral motion.

Figure 4 is a fragmental sectional elevation designed to show the clamping device in section.

Figure 5 is a fragmental elevation showing the clamping device in elevation.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation taken on line 6--6, Figure 10, showing a form of comb construction modied from that shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation taken on line 1-1, Figure 10.

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation taken on line 8 8, vFigure 4.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation taken on line 9 9, Figure 4, and

Figure 10 is a fragmental elevation in section showing the modied form of the invention, partially illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, wherein a 55 spring is designed to normally hold the teeth of the half combs one against the other, yet designed to yieldingly separate under pressure.

The device of this invention, as shown in the drawing, comprises a comb I5, formed of half combs I1 and I9, having teeth 2|, of which teeth 2|a are formed integral with half comb I1,'while teeth 2lb are formed integral with half comb I9.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9, the combi may be formed with a straight body portion, or it may be formed with a curved section as shown in Figures 1 and and 2.. As shown in Figure 3, the body 23 of half comb I9 is formed with teeth 2lb' integral therewith, and are spaced one from the other in the form of cells 25, which are so proportioned in regard to spacingof the teeth 2 Ibi, that teeth 2 la, formed Integral with half comb body 21, may nest within the cells 25, and be permitted lateral motion in the direction of the arrows A and B, the position shown in Figures 4 and 5, being a neutral position.

A clamping device 29 comprising a finger lever 3|, and having a screw stem 33 is adapted to be threadedly engaged with one of the teeth 2| a', while its free end is adapted to engage a threaded nut 36 which is tted to slide in the direction of the arrows A and B in a groove formed in the outer face of the dependent side 39. This arrangement permits tooth 2| a tobe clamped and held immobile with respect to the dependent sides 39 and 39' of the body portion 23.

'Ihe tooth 2Ia is somewhat enlarged at 4| to provide strength, after placement of the stem 33, while adjacent teeth 40 and 4| are concaved to receive the enlargement 4|, when the half combs I1 and I9 are moved in the directions indicated by arrows A and B. The stem 33 also serves to keep the half combs I1 and I9 in nested position.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 6, 7 and 10, the general construction shown and described in respect to Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9,

is followed except as will'now be stated.

In the modiiied form of construction the teeth 2Ia. and 2lb` are normally in contact one with the other, and are held in Vertical alignment or nested position by means of a longitudinally extending pin 50 which is snugly fitted within the upper half comb body 21, and extends through lugs or extensions 52 on two of the comb teeth 2lb. As shown in Figure 10, the body 21 is chambered at 55 to permit lateral movement of the tooth 2lb, while provision is made by use of the cellular construction 25, as previously mentioned, to permit lateral movement of the teeth 2| a of the upper half comb I1, 55

with respect to the teeth of the lower half comb As previously stated, in the present form of construction, the teeth of the half combs are intended to lie one against the other, and in order to effect this construction, certain of the teeth terminate in a plane intersecting the lower edge of the dependent sides 39 of the body 23, for the purpose of forming a block section 55, which is provided with a cylindrical opening 51, for the purpose ofY receivingan extensile spring 59, one end of whichl may be attached to an anchorage 6|, while its opposite end is secured to the rst tooth 2la, next adjacent the block section 55.

It will thus be apparent that the teeth oi the two half combs are snugly held together, yet that they may be spread -whenV pressure is applied to slip them longitudinally in the directions l of arrows A and B.

y'Io use the device of this invention, it is only necessary to grasp the comb in the hand, and to exert a pressure in one direction with the thumb, and an oppositely directed pressure with the index nger, to cause the half combs to'slide so that the teeth are either together or spaced as occasion may require. The clamp 29 is then given a quarter turn and the half combs are locked in position as selected.

In the modied form of construction, the spring 59 causes the teeth to move into and to remain in contact. To spread the teeth it is only necessary to apply the same type of force to the device as has been just described as being applicable to the iirst form of construction. After spreading the teeth and placing the comb in useful position, the finger pressure is released, and the spring 59 causes the half combs to slip together, thereby clamping and holding the hair of the user in position.

It is obvious that various changes and modications and variations may be made in practicing the invention in departure from the particular showing of the drawing and description as given, without, howevendeparting from the true spirit of the invention as dened by the scope ofthe appended claims.

l I claim:

1. A comb formed of half combs, said half combs being nested and adapted to move longitudinally relative to one another, and means to lock said half combs in selected position, said means comprising a nger pressed, lever actuated screw adapted to clamp certain of the teeth of one of said half combs between the sides of the body portion ofthe other of said half combs.

2. A comb formed of half combs, said half combs'being nested whereby the teeth of one of said half vcombs extend through the body of the other of said half combs and lie between spaced adjacent teeth therein, the space between said adjacent teeth being adapted to permit relative movement between the teeth of said half combs, and a nger actuated screw to clamp certain of the teeth of one of said half combs between the sides of the body portion of the other of said half combs.

LOUIS NEWBERRY. 

